Top Picks from Elite Analysts for Long-Term Returns
Despite ongoing market volatility caused by macroeconomic uncertainties, investors should focus on high-quality stocks with strong fundamentals and long-term growth potential. Based on their solid financials and future prospects, three stocks have been singled out by top Wall Street analysts as capable of weathering short-term pressures and delivering exceptional returns.
According to TipRanks, a platform that ranks analysts based on their historical performance, here are three stocks favored by top-tier analysts.
NVIDIA (NVDA.US) – Semiconductor Giant with Strong AI Momentum
NVIDIA, a semiconductor leader, tops this week’s recommendations after surpassing market expectations in its fiscal Q1 2026 earnings report. Despite chip export restrictions, the company remains confident about future demand for its AI infrastructure.
Key Highlights:
JPMorgan Analyst Harlan Sur reiterated a “Buy” rating with a $170 price target.
While H20 chip export limitations to China impacted sales, overall revenue remained robust.
A $4.5 billion inventory impairment charge for H20 chips weighed on profits, but excluding this, data center revenue is expected to grow ~16% QoQ in the July quarter, driven by strong customer investment in AI/accelerated computing and Blackwell platform mass production.
Sur emphasized that demand for the Blackwell platform is exceptionally strong, with supply likely to remain tight for multiple quarters.
NVIDIA’s recent large-scale data center partnerships (e.g., UAE, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan) and the end of export restrictions support its growth outlook.
Sur concluded that NVIDIA continues to lead the industry with its chip technology, software-hardware integration, and robust ecosystem, further widening its competitive edge through aggressive product launches and segmentation.
Analyst Track Record:
Sur ranks #38 out of 9,600+ analysts on TipRanks, with a 66% recommendation success rate and an average return of 23.4%.
Zscaler (ZS.US) – Cybersecurity Leader with Surging Demand
Zscaler, a cybersecurity firm, is the second recommendation, benefiting from strong Q3 earnings driven by demand for its Zero Trust Exchange platform and AI security solutions.
Key Highlights:
JPMorgan Analyst Brian Essex raised the price target from 275to292, maintaining a “Buy” rating.
Despite macroeconomic pressures, Zscaler’s quarterly performance was impressive, with the company raising its full-year revenue, earnings, and billings guidance.
Growth was fueled by new products like “Universal Zero Trust,” “Universal Data Security,” and “Intelligent Operations,” which now generate nearly $1 billion in annual recurring revenue (ARR).
Essex noted that large customer growth remained strong, with ARR from customers exceeding 1millionup∗∗2330 billion ARR** in Q4.
The acquisition of Red Canary is expected to enhance Zscaler’s threat intelligence capabilities.
Analyst Track Record:
- Essex ranks #652 out of 9,600+ analysts, with a 58% success rate and an average return of 12.6%.
Salesforce (CRM.US) – CRM Software Powerhouse with AI Advancements
Salesforce, a leading customer relationship management (CRM) software provider, rounds out the list after beating Q1 2026 earnings expectations and announcing an $8 billion acquisition of data management firm Informatica.
Key Highlights:
TD Cowen Analyst Derrick Wood reiterated a “Buy” rating with a $375 price target.
Revenue and unbilled contract value exceeded expectations, with Salesforce recommitting to sales team expansion—a strong signal for future growth.
AI-driven growth was a major highlight, with data cloud and AI-related ARR up over 120% YoY.
The Agentforce smart agent product gained significant traction, with 30% of new orders coming from existing customers.
Wood noted that data cloud expansion is a leading indicator for Agentforce adoption, and as customers accelerate smart workflow deployment, this advantage will strengthen.
After maintaining stable operating margins (~35%), Salesforce is reinvesting AI-driven cost savings into growth initiatives.
Salesforce is also ramping up sales hiring after a two-to-three-year pause, with management reporting double-digit pipeline growth—a clear sign of improving demand.
Analyst Track Record:
- Wood’s rankings and performance metrics were not fully detailed in the original text but are available on TipRanks for further reference.
Conclusion
These three stocks—NVIDIA, Zscaler, and Salesforce—represent compelling opportunities for long-term investors seeking resilience and growth in uncertain markets. Backed by strong fundamentals and favorable analyst outlooks, they are well-positioned to deliver superior returns over the coming years.
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